Computer input device

• US 5,019,677 A
• Filed: 07/11/1990
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MicroSlate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroSlate, Inc.
• Inventors: Menen, Balan
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/551,621
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 340/709, 340/706, 338/133, 338/48, 338/131
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

A computer input device for positioning a cursor on a computer video screen. With this device information is put into the computer by the penmanship motion of the hand holding a stylus in the fashion of a writing instrument so that only finger motion is required for data input. Device replaces the arm-to-eye coordination of the mouse with hand-to-eye coordination such as that used in ordinary penmanship. Rather than encoders driven by a turning ball or wheels, a resistance array with wiper contacts produces variable resistances which are converted into variable voltages that are a function of position of the stylus.

Claims

1. A computer input device for positioning a cursor on a computer display screen requiring only penmanship motion to move a stylus comprising in combination:

an enclosure;

a slidable circuit;

a stylus;

said enclosure serving as a support for a hand holding said stylus, the stylus movably engaging said slidable circuit, thereby generating cursor coordinate signals and computer command signals at any cursor location on said computer display screen.

2. A computer input device for positioning a cursor on a computer display requiring only penmanship motion to move a stylus comprising in combination:

an enclosure;

a positioning mechanism;

a slider assembly;

an electrical circuit;

a stylus;

said enclosure comprising a bottom box inclined at a small angle from the horizontal and closed by a top cover containing an aperture and serving as a support surface for a hand holding said stylus, the bottom box and top forming an enclosure that provides support and containment for said positioning mechanism, said slider assembly and said electrical circuit;

said positioning mechanism being anchored inside the enclosure and having said slider assembly attached thereto, the positioning mechanism constraining the slider assembly to move in parallel proximity to the top cover of the enclosure in two mutually orthogonal directions with the center of motion congruent with the center of said aperture in the top cover;

said slider assembly comprising a top member adjacent said top cover and a bottom member adjacent said electrical circuit, the top member being compliant toward said bottom member and having an indentation located at the center of motion of the slider assembly and engaging said stylus projecting through the aperture, said bottom member being in sliding electrical contact with, and forming part of, said electrical circuit;

said slider assembly furthur comprising a switching means between the top and bottom members and concentric with said indentation; and

said stylus moving the slider assembly laterally as governed by said positioning mechanism, thereby generating coordinate signals proportional to the position of the stylus, and vertically to actuate said switching means through the compliance of the top member, thereby generating a command signal at any coordinate position.

3. A computer input device for positioning a cursor on a computer display requiring only penmanship motion to move a stylus comprising in combination:

an enclosure;

a positioning mechanism;

a slider assembly;

an electrical circuit;

a stylus;

a connecting means;

said enclosure comprising a shallow bottom box inclined at a small angle from the horizontal and closed by a parallel top cover containing an aperture and serving as a support surface for a hand holding said stylus, the bottom box and top forming a rectangular parallelopiped enclosure that provides firm support for said positioning mechanism and containment for said slider assembly and said electrical circuit;

said positioning mechanism being tee-shaped, securely anchored inside the enclosure and having said slider assembly attached thereto, said positioning mechanism comprising a first sliding means operative in the cross-tee direction only and a second sliding means operative at a right angle in the other tee direction only, thereby constraining the slider assembly to move in parallel proximity to the top cover of the enclosure in two mutually orthogonal directions, with the center of motion congruent with the center of said aperture in the top cover;

said slider assembly comprising a top member adjacent said top cover and a bottom member adjacent said electrical circuit, the top member being compliant toward said bottom member and having an indentation located at the center of motion of the slider assembly and engaging said stylus projecting through the aperture, said bottom member being in sliding electrical contact with, and forming part of, said electrical circuit;

said slide assembly furthur comprising a switching means between the top and bottom members and concentric with said indentation; and

said stylus moving the slider assembly laterally as governed by said positioning mechanism, thereby generating coordinate signals proportional to the position of the stylus, and vertically to actuate said switching means through the compliance of the top member, thereby generating a command signal at any coordinate position.

5. A computer input device as in claim 3 or 4 wherein said circuit further comprises:

a resistance array;

a set of four pliant contacts;

said resistance array having four interconnected resistance elements of resistance R fastened to the internal surface of said bottom closure and forming a rectilinear array symmetrically located with respect to the center of motion of said slider assembly, and with sides parallel to the directions of motion;

said set of four pliant contacts arranged radially about said center of motion and positioned symmetrically and orthogonally with respect to said resistance array, a pair of said pliant contacts being connected together and in sliding contact with two resistance elements parallel to one direction of motion and the other pair of pliant contacts similarly connected and in sliding contact with the resistance elements parallel to the other direction of motion; and

said resistance elements being of such a length and so spaced that, over the extremes of travel of the slider assembly, each pair of pliant contacts is always in electrical contact with the resistance elements opposite it and no other, thus forming two variable resistances, one for each direction of motion, each having a resistance value proportional to a coordinate position of the slider assembly.

6. A computer input device as in claim 5 wherein:

said resistance elements, each having a resistance of R ohms, are connected so that, in each of the slider assembly travel directions, each variable resistance ranges from substantially zero to substantially 2R.

7. A computer input device as in claim 6 wherein:

said resistance elements have a resistance value R in the range of 1,000 to 10,000 ohms.

4. A computer input device for positioning a cursor on a computer display requiring only penmanship motion to move a stylus comprising in combination:

an enclosure;

a positioning mechanism;

a slider assembly;

an electrical circuit;

a stylus;

a connecting means;

said enclosure comprising a shallow bottom box inclined at a small angle from the horizontal and closed by a parallel top cover containing an aperture and serving as a support surface for a hand holding said stylus, the bottom box and top forming a rectangular parallelopiped enclosure that provides firm support for said positioning mechanism and containment for said slider assembly and said electrical circuit;

said positioning mechanism comprising two fixed cee-shaped rails securely anchored to the enclosure and slidably supporting two moving cee-shaped rails held therein in tongue and groove fashion, and said moving rails slidably supporting said slider mechanism in tongue and groove fashion, thereby constraining the slider assembly to move in parallel proximity to the top cover of the enclosure in two mutually orthogonal directions with the center of motion congruent with the center of said aperture in the top cover;

said slider assembly comprising a top member adjacent said top cover and a bottom member adjacent said electrical circuit, the top member being compliant toward said bottom member and having an indentation located at the center of motion of the slider assembly and engaging said stylus projecting through the aperture, said bottom member being in sliding electrical contact with, and forming part of, said electrical circuit;

said slider assembly furthur comprising a switching means between the top and bottom members and concentric with said indentation; and

said stylus moving the slider assembly laterally as governed by said positioning mechanism, thereby generating coordinate signals proportional to the position of the stylus, and vertically to actuate said switching means through the compliance of the top member, thereby generating a command signal at any coordinate position.